About Southwest Minnesota State University

Founded in 1963, Southwest Minnesota State University. is a Public college. Located in Minnesota, which is a city setting in Minnesota, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 7,007 full time undergraduate students, and 488 full time graduate students.

The Southwest Minnesota State University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 16:1. There are 102 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Southwest Minnesota State University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate54%
Application Deadline
Application Fee20
SAT Range765-1075
ACT Range18-23

Admissions at SMSU are considered Selective, with ,15% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 26 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

0% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 0% were in the top quarter, and 0% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Southwest Minnesota State University.

8%
“We”re apathetic”
17%
“We know about current events and vote”
75%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
0%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
8%
“Sometimes, but not often”
75%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
17%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
25%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
75%
“I feel extremely safe”
18%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
27%
“We bought the gear”
55%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
8%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
75%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
17%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
33%
“They keep regular office hours”
67%
“They”re always available”
67%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
25%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
8%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
58%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
33%
“We only party on weekends”
8%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
8%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
83%
“There might be people who do”
8%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
8%
“We”re apathetic”
17%
“We know about current events and vote”
75%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
0%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
8%
“Sometimes, but not often”
75%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
17%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
25%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
75%
“I feel extremely safe”
18%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
27%
“We bought the gear”
55%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
8%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
75%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
17%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
33%
“They keep regular office hours”
67%
“They”re always available”
67%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
25%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
8%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
58%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
33%
“We only party on weekends”
8%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
8%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
83%
“There might be people who do”
8%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

Southwest Minnesota State University REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    53 Students rated on-campus housing 3.6 stars. 13 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    43 Students rated off-campus housing 3.6 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    60 Students rated campus food 2.9 stars. 8 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    63 Students rated campus facilities 4.2 stars. 37 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    63 Students rated class size 4.4 stars. 60 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    62 Students rated school activities 3.8 stars. 24 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    62 Students rated local services 3.8 stars. 35 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    63 Students rated academics 4.1 stars. 40 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Southwest Minnesota State University?

14 Students rated Southwest Minnesota State University

Zander - 02/12/2024

I really like the small feeling of the campus and everything was in great distance so I feel like I wont get lost and everyone from the tour guide and the admissions were very friendly. I enjoyed it very much and plan to attend there in the winter of 2025

Dinara - 07/31/2019

I think this school is a great option for students who want a small college. It has several activities scheduled per week and there are always club members around to encourage you to go. The staff are all friendly and want to get to know you. Since it is a small school, fellow students will notice if you're in class or not, or if you're late. This makes you have a higher ambition to always be on time and not miss classes.

Tayte - 07/26/2019

I found this university to be very helpful to me as a Freshman. When I had questions, someone was always available to answer them or get me to the person who could. The other students no matter what year they were in always greeted and helped me as a new student.

Holly - 05/22/2019

They are a very sports focused college. They are in a very distant part on Minnesota that doesn't have any major town by it. They are kind of in the middle of no where. They have fairly good academic program. The facilities are fairly up-to-date. The dorms were relatively roomy, very industrial looking. The food was good, and you had a variety of options.

Southwest Minnesota State University FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Southwest Minnesota State University?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Southwest Minnesota State University is 54%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    Well, before you actually decide to attend a college, visit it first.

    Read all  61 answers

  3. Describe the students at your school.

    My classmates are very outgoing and willing to help others.

    Read all  15 answers

  4. What's unique about your campus?

    Students and teachers

    Read all  15 answers

  5. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    The small classes and how easy it is to get one on one time with your professors.

    Read all  14 answers

  6. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish I had more instuction in to how to study for certain kinds of classes. Studiying for classes that are simply recall of facts versus classes that deal in processes require different study skills.

    Read all  13 answers

  7. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    Lack of motivation

    Read all  12 answers

  8. What kind of person should attend this school?

    A person who knows how to study. A person who likes participating.

    Read all  10 answers

  9. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    The small class sizes make it great to get hands on attention from the teachers. You are able to meet with them after or before class and they are very friendly. You get a lot of focused attention from the faculty . There are a lot of tutors/study groups if needed.

    Read all  9 answers

  10. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    A small school in the middle of nowhere, with nothing to do in town, but students stay because there are a lot of really great people to hang out wiht all the time... and well, you learn stuff too.

    Read all  6 answers

  11. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    Their is a wide variety of students that attend this school. Their are students who are very focused on their future career, their are students who come to play sports and their are students who are very involved in drinking and having fun at college. I don't this their is a student that wouldn't fit in somewhere. I don't believe that this college is wrong for anyone. Any high school graduate looking to attend this college would find somewhere to belong.

    Read all  6 answers

  12. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    There are no on campus jobs unless you have financail aid which they don't give to anybody with a scholarship.

    Read all  6 answers

  13. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    The school is best known for its variety of educational oppertunites. From Early education, Business and administration, to Fine Arts and Humanities. The university offers various classes at allow for growth and knowledge in areas that the local communities are not always exposed to and that offers local students a chance to experiance global education without moving to each geographical location.

    Read all  5 answers

Student Body

Students

58%

female

42%

male

7,007

Total Undergrad Enrollment

488

Total Grad Students

20%

Out-Of-State

73%

In-State

7%

International

Organizations

100

Student Organizations

N/A

Fraternities

N/A

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

16%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
2%
% Black or African-American
2%
% Hispanic/Latino
4%
% White or Caucasian
84%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

88% of students attending Southwest Minnesota State University receive some sort of financial aid. 36% were awarded federal grants. While 68% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$8,347

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,200

Books and Supplies

$7,686

Room and Board

17,233

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$11,376
$30 - $48K
$11,594
$48 - $75K
$13,691
$75 - $110K
$17,199
$110K & UP
$18,375

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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